❖ The ruling NDA nominee, Om Birla, was elected as the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha for a second consecutive term by a voice vote.

❖ This year, the Lok Sabha witnessed contested election for Lok Sabha Speaker post between Om Birla and the INDIA bloc’s nominee, Kodikunnil Suresh, the eight-time Congress MP from Kerala’s Mavelikara.

❖ The Lok Sabha Speaker is the constitutional and ceremonial head of the House.

❖ He/she deals with the actual necessities and concerns of Parliament in the performance of its functions.

❖ According to the Indian Constitution, Article 93 provides for the election of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.

❖ It is the members of the Lok Sabha who elect its presiding officer by a simple majority.

❖ The election of the Speaker is usually the first item of business in the newly constituted Lok Sabha.

❖ The process is overseen by the Pro-tem Speaker, who is appointed by the President of India.

❖ Notably, in the 72 years of the Lok Sabha Assembly, the election for the Speaker post has taken place only thrice, i.e., in 1952, 1967 and 1976.

❖ Notably, this is the sixth time that a Lok Sabha Speaker has been re-elected to the position and the fifth time for a consecutive second time.